Trust is used in “The Merchant of Venice” to make conflict
more alive and the love that is in the story line more prevalent. Portia hooks in Bassanio with the gift she bestows upon him. For example, “In “The Merchant of Venice” spotlights shiny displays of sacrifice and gift giving. At the same time he (Shakespeare) lets the shadows of darker motives encroach on the glitter of those displays”(Berger 1). The darker motives show that Portia is a little bit conniving in her way the she bestows the ring onto Bassanio. She uses the ring to self-protect, setting herself into a win-win situation. For example, “Portia’s gift to Bassanio is an act of self-protection “in a naughty world”(Shakespeare 5.1.91), a something for nothing that she can transform
…show more content…
Portia uses her manipulation throughout her dialogue to get what she wants. Bassanio is basically looking for the highest bidder for money. When everything is said and done the overall emotional effect of “The Merchant of Venice” was one of the most positive that I have ever read from a Shakespeare play, there was no death! That was the most surprising, next to the fact that everything ended exactly how it was supposed to. Bassanio got the girl, or the money, whichever he wanted the most, Portia followed her father’s wishes by marrying a man who is so dumb, in my mind, that she can manipulate to get whatever she wants. Antonio did not have to pay the loan he was required to pay, he was about to get a piece of flesh taken out of him when Balthazar(Portia) used her conniving self to save him, and all of his ships came back to port. The only one who was not in the clear was poor Shylock the Jew. At the earlier stages of “The Merchant of Venice” he was set, going to get either his loan repaid or take a piece of Antonio and feed it to the fish, for personal reasons. BUT, he had the exact opposite happen to him. Shylock had parts of his estate taken away, and could not take a piece of flesh out of Antonio, which is all he wanted to do, he had his daughter betray him and switch to the religion he hated, and did not even get his loan paid back. In conclusion “The Merchant of Venice”has many different plot twist that make the audience excited that there is going to be a fight and then happy when everything goes the way the majority of the characters planned it to go, and then Shylock was made the ass of Bassanio, Portia, and Antonio’s
Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice exemplifies a principle that is as unfortunately true in our time as it was in his - he who has money also has love, sex, and above all, power. In this case, the use of 'he' is deliberate; 'she,' in the Elizabethan era, rarely had either financial independence or much control over the course of her life. Portia, the deceitful heroine of the play, is a major exception. To put it bluntly, Portia is enormously rich. This unique position allows her to meddle in the affairs of the unsuspecting and somewhat dim male characters, and eventually gives her unprecedented power of self-determination. However, the play is more than a tale of feminine wiles overcoming male dullness of wit. Portia's wealth and intelligence may fuel her successes in marriage and the courtroom, but in each case it is her ability to usurp traditionally masculine roles that guarantees her victory. As Portia exploits the codependence of wealth, masculinity, and public power in her society, she becomes the only woman in the play who consistently controls her own destiny.
Portia play’s a major role in trying to persuade Shylock to be merciful to Antonio, as the story continues. Basannio, the loyal friend of Antonio also tries to persuade Shylock to show some sympathy towards Antonio, but is not shown.
Baptista is looking for suitors to marry his daughters and views the marriage as a monetary transaction: "After my death the one half of my lands, and in possession twenty thousand crowns." (2.1 122-123). In this quote, Shakespeare is using the characterization of Baptista to demonstrate how women were viewed as nothing more than objects that could be sold. Baptista told this to Petruchio when he asked how much Kate was worth. In addition, Baptista was attempting to appeal to suitors: "Proceed in practise with my younger daughter; she 's apt to learn and thankful for good turns. Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?" (2.1 165-168). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate how poorly women were viewed. Baptista is practically selling his daughters and attempting to make them more appealing to suitors, so much as offering to bring Kate to Petruchio. Throughout most of the play, Baptista is looking to marry off his daughters. "Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant 's part, and venture madly on a desperate mart." (2.1 345-346). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate once again the little value women have and how they are viewed as objects. Baptista is acting as a "merchant" when he is selling his
There you have it. Portia is Bassanio's. This may be idle lover's talk; however, it does signify the beginning of a possessive relationship in which Bassanio is the possessor!
not allowed to do any Christian jobs and had to live in the ghetto (a
The Merchant of Venice is a play set in a very male and Christian dominated society where other religions and women rights weren’t very well accepted by the community. However Portia, a rich woman who had previously been controlled by men, triumphs as she manipulates tricks and saves the lives of the men. We see how she is manipulated by men through her father, who though dead, still manages to control who she marries from his will. He states in his will that from three different caskets the suitors will have to choose, in each of which will contain either a letter to the suitor or a picture of Portia. In one of the three caskets, either the lead, silver or gold casket, there will be a picture of Portia.
– 25) Another way of illuminating that Portia is not appreciated in the The beginning of the play is when Bassanio borrows money from Antonio to woo Portia, telling him that he would pay him back when he marries. Portia. The. This shows that this is Bassanio’s key objective in wooing. her.
money to one who totally ruined him in public, on terms that were nicer than his
Character Analysis of Othello “Othello” is a tragedy, and Othello is a tragic hero. Othello is a general in the service of Venice. He is good, courageous, brave and trustworthy. The sexy is the best. However, he has some weaknesses such as insecurity.
Analysis of Shylock's Role in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. In this essay, I will be examining one of Shakespeare’s most memorable plays. and controversial character, Shylock. Shylock is one of the main characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice.’
In the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, there is a concept of otherness throughout the play. Many characters had roles in which they were examples of the outsiders, that occurred during the time the play was written. If not all but in most plays by William Shakespeare, there is always a character who is categorized as the outsider. However, The Merchant of Venice took the concept into a deeper level, instead of depicting differences in social class as otherness, the play included race and religion, instead of social class. These beliefs shaped not only the way the play was written, but how the characters treated certain individuals in the play and how the personality of each character
Bassanio was so grateful towards Balthazar that he was able to place Balthazar of above importance to Portia his wife. Portia then compares Bassanio giving up her beloved ring to if she were to give her body to the doctor as a parallel. Prior to the men being made aware of Portia and Nerissa’s disguises, they explain their reasoning’s as a necessity. Once Bassanio and Gratiano know the truth, they apologize with fear as they now know the power these two women posses. Gratiano ends the play by stating “I’ll fear no other thing so sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring” (V, I, 324-325). Gender roles are now reversed as the play concludes which shows that gender itself is a social construct and is not
is the one person that people love to hate. The best example of this I
“If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what is his humility? Shakespeare shows here that money doesn’t have the same effect on love as it does with the caskets or with the evil in Shylock, and that it can be used for good love in Portia’s donation. In Venice, Bassanio brings fourth the 6000 ducats to repay Shylock, but he doesn’t accept it. Once Portia, disguised as the doctor, entered the court, she pleads with Shylock to show mercy, but he refuses.
Throughout the Merchant of Venice, while Portia is being courted. the reader can see that she does not like any of the suitors, except Bassanio. She finds a flaw in all the suitors and readers, as well, can see. the flaws in each as they present themselves to her. Her true love however, is for Bassanio